“Of First Importance”

A response to someone’s question: “Is it necessary for the Christian to believe Jesus was actually raised form the dead? 

Paul reminds his readers in no uncertain terms that the actual, physical, historically accurate resurrection of Jesus from the grave following his crucifixion is of first importance.  The resurrection is Christianity, and without it there is none.  Paul removes any doubt of his opinion in 1 Corinthians 15:14 when he writes, “And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Without a resurrected Christ all of Christendom is moot.

Jesus’ resurrection proves prophesy concerning the Christ, that spoken by himself and that written centuries before his birth.  The empty tomb sets Jesus apart from all the other zealots before and since who have claimed for themselves Jesus’ standing as Messiah.  There had been many such movements before Jesus began his ministry, and recent history reminds us of the great many since.  There is an undeniable, unavoidable common denominator shared by the David Koreshes and Jim Joneses of the world: they are still dead.

If Jesus has not been raised, he has no power over death and sin, and we have nothing to hope for except hell.  In verse 17 and following Paul writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”